World's tallest totem pole, carved by Mungo Martin, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.
- 134-a040085c
- Item
- 9 Aug. 1972
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
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World's tallest totem pole, carved by Mungo Martin, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
This pole was on display at UBC in Totem Park in the 1960’s and 1970’s and moved to the Museum in the late 1970’s. It was carved in 1914 in Tsaxis (Fort Rupert) by George Hunt Sr. for the Edward S. Curtis film "In the Land of the War Canoes" which was originally titled "In the Land of the Head Hunters". The pole was collected by Marius Barbeau and Arthur Price in 1947. The pole was repaired and re-painted by carvers Ellen Neel in 1949 and Mungo Martin in 1950-51. It stood at Totem Park, UBC Campus until it was re-located to the Museum's Great Hall in 1976.
Iconography: Kolus is a young thunderbird. Thunderbird is a supernatural bird identifiable by the presence of ear-like projections or horns on the head, and a re-curved beak. The pole alludes to the story of Tongas people in south Alaska, who migrated south.
Top of tallest pole, carved by Mungo Martin, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
Tallest totem pole, carved by Mungo Martin, Beacon Hill Park, Victoria, B.C.
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
Kwakiutl, new Mungo Martin pole #1, Totem Park, UBC, Vancouver
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
Carved by Mungo Martin 1951. Erected in UBC Totem Park. Moved to MOA in 1970’s but not erected in Great Hall until 2012 after repairs.
Kwakiutl (carved by Mungo Martin), Alert Bay sea lion pole #2, Totem Park - UBC, Vancouver
Part of E. Polly Hammer fonds
Originally carved by Mungo Martin in 1902 (Alert Bay). Refurbished by Mungo Martin in 1949. Erected in UBC Totem Park and moved to MOA Great Hall c. 1976.